Double acting overshot apparatus



Aug. 20, 1957 F. L. LE Bus, SR

DOUBLE ACTING OVERSHOT APPARATUS 2 Sheelts-Sheet l Filed July 15. 195.4

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INVENTOR. BY ELQUS, 5r

ATTORNEY l Aug. 20, 1957 F. L.. LE Bus, SR

DOUBLE ACTING ovERsHoT APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15.. 1954 uw. 8 w nmwQm United States Patent O DOUBLE ACTING OVERSHOT APPARATUS Franklin L. Le Bus, Sr., Longview, Tex.

Application July 15, 1954, Serial No. 443,597

9 Claims. (Cl. 294-102) of drill pipe, sucker rods, drill collars, casing or tubingA that are dropped in the well bore, which in most instances must be recovered before the drilling operation can proceed. In many drilling operations the broken off portion of the lost drill pipe severs, or parts in more than one place, for example, it may sever both in the drill pipe, and in the drill collars which are usually of a larger size than the pipe. Consequently the operator cannot be sure which of two or more sizes of overshot apparatus is necessary in order to engage a broken off portion. Furthermore, broken oli portions of pipe in falling in the well may become stuck in the well bore and cannot be readily pulled up and removed therefrom by gripping the pipe with a shing tool at only one place of Contact.

The present invention is generally concerned with an improvement in a cltuch type releasing overshot for the removal of lost drill pipe, drill collars, casing or tubing where the overshot may be set to engage the lost member at two diierent vertically spaced positions on broken oir pipe of the same size, or of variable sizes, and where one engagement may be independent of the other to engage the pipe in one action, whereby valuable operating rig time is saved by eliminating a re-running of fishing tools for variable sizes of broken olf members.

lt is an important object of this invention to provide an overshot fishing tool for engaging lost fish in a drilled well bore which may engage the fish at two dilferent points of contact in `order to remove the fish from the bore.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an overshot fishing tool for the removal of lost fish in a well bore which operates to engage broken oi pipe having variable sizes of diameters, and at two dileren't vertically spaced positions, and where one position of engagement may be independent of the other.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an overshot for recovering lost fish of variable sizes adapted to engage the ish at two different places in one action and which will release at both points of contact simultaneously.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an overshot lishing tool for recovering lost lish in well bores adapted to engage fish of variable sizes at different points of contact and which efficiently packs 0E the engaging members and also provides for milling ol rough edges of the top of the iish preventing injury to the packer.

`And still another object of this invention is to provide an overshot shing tool contacting lost fish at two different positions of engagement which is simple and ellicient in operation, and particularly provides for simultarleous engagement and release of the slip members with the fish at the two different spaced points of Contact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevational view with certain parts in elevation of the upper portion of the overshot apparatus.

Figure 1A is a continuation of Fig. l showing the lowermost portion of the overshot apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the clutch mechanism.

Figure 3 is a broken sectional elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing a lish of variable diameters' disposed therein. H

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly different disposition of the fish relative to the overshot apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational viewof a modification of the apparatus. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 1 designates an upper head member of the double acting overshot apparatus indicated generally by the reference character 10. The head 1 has a threaded tapered portion 2 to engage with an overshot pipe or fishing pipe of a drill stem (not shown). The head 1 is provided with an elongated bore 3 and is connected at 4 with an upper cylindrical housing or bowl 5 which in turn is connected by complementary threads 6 to a lower cylindrical housing or bowl member 7 (Figs. l and 1A). The housing member 7 is connected at its lowermost portion by com-l plementary threads 8 with a guide member 9 having a cam portion 11 to guide a fish, such as broken od pipe or the like, into the overshot apparatus in the usual manner. A cylindrical control mandrel or sleeve 12 is disposed in the overshot housings 5 and 7, with the upper section 12 connecting with the lower control cylinder 13 through complementary threads 14 (Fig. 1A).

The bore 3 of the upper head 1 is provided with a countersunk, or grooved portion 15 having diametrically opposed and inwardly directed lugs 16, the lower end of which is liush with the lower end of the head 1 as at 17. A circular anti-friction apertured bearing member 18 is interposed between the upper head 1 and top 19 of the upper control sleeve 12 (Fig. 1). A helical control spring 20 is disposed around the upper sleeve 12 and is anchored at lits lower end on shoulders 21 of the control sleeve 12 and its opposite upper end against the lower face of the antifriction bearing 18. The control sleeve 12 is provided with a central bore 24 communicating with bore 3 and has a recessed portion 25 in its upper end providing shoulders 26 for supporting a cylindrical mill 27 provided with mill teeth 28 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The mill 27 is held against the shoulder 26 by diametrically opposed studs 29 extending through aligned apertures 30 in the sleeve 12 in any suitable manner. Y Y

A' plurality of spaced segmental slip members 32 are disposed around the control sleeve 12 and are held thereon by a spring retainer ringv33. A helical spring 34 is anchored between the circumferential shoulder 21 and the slips 32. The spring 34 encircles the upper sleeve 12 and is held thereon by a retainer sleeve 35 having outwardly extending shoulders 36 for anchoring the bottom of the spring 34. It will be apparent that the spring 34 is of less thickness and lighter weight than the main spring 2i) and consequently has less intensity in its application of tension or compression. Furthermore, the spring 34 is permitted to move vertically along the sleeve 12 permitting vertical movement of the slips 32 vertically upward along the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 for a purpose s will be hereinafter set forth. The sleeve 12 may be a cage-like structure through a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 31 disposed substantially adjacent -the slip members 32,l if ,desired` The Vupper bowl member is providedwith an inwardly directed tapered portion 32ab for cooperation with the slips 32 in a manner as4 will beY hereinafter set forth;V Y

At'a point below thevslips 32, the upper control sleeve 12 is provided with a pair of diamet'ricallyopposed vertically disposed slot portions 37 and 38(Fig`s. lA and 2) communicatingrwith a pair of horizontally disposed recCSSeS, or `slot portions` 39 and ,40, respectively, It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that there are two diametrically opposite vertical slots connecting and communicating with the horizontal recesses or slots ,3,9 and40. The/upper housing .bowl 5 is provided with a pair of inwardly directed diametrically opposed lugs 42 and 43 cooperatingwith both the vertical, and horizontal slots in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth.

The upper control sleeve 12 is engaged with the lower control sleeve 13 by the complementary threadsr14,-a`s sisted by suitable set screws. 4S arranged at diametrically opposed positions therebetween (Fig. 1A). 'lfhe outer f periphery ofthe lower control sleeve 13 is provided with a circular recessed portion 46 in which is disposed an Q- ring sealing member 47 preventing leakage of water, mud and other debris between the wallsof the upper and lower sleeves ,12 and 13, respectively. The lower control sleeve 13 has a reduced cut away portion providing .shouldersV 48 for anchoring the upper end of a helical spring 50 surrounding the lower control sleeve 13 in a manner similarrto the upper spring 34. The spring 50 is retained around the'sleeve`13 by a sleeve retaining ring 51 having an Voutwardly directed circular ange Vb2 uponwhich the bottom end of the spring 50 is anchored. Below the circular. flange 52, a second set of circumferentially spaced segmental slip membersv 54 surround the sleeve V13V and are held thereagainst by a spring retaining ring 5S in the usual manner. In ,similar manner, the slips 54 are permitted vertical movement with movement of the oating retainer ring 51 and the spring 50 as will be hereinafter set forth.

The lower portion of the control sleeve 13'is provided with a mill-*member 56 having mill teeth 57 similar to the mill 27 inthe upper part of the overshot apparatus. The lowerybody member7 is provided with an inwardly directed taper 54E-*cooperating with the set of slips 54 ,in a manner as will be hereinafter vset forth. Furthermore, the body 7 is cut a-way at 58 providing an undercut shouldered portion against which` is Vanchored a rubber packing ring 579, anchored therein by a `steel retaining ring 60. The rubber sealing ring 59 lprevents leakage of mud, Water and other debris between the lower body and the lost -fish upon `dispositionof .the sh within the Vovershot apparatus. The top'of the over- Y shotguide 9 by engagement with `the bowl 7 through complementary threadsS supports the retaining ring 60 -at 61 (Fig. lA). A packer ring 63 is provided against the lower end of the upper sleeve 12 (Fig. 1A) and held therein by a retainer ring 64 in yturn secured to the Ilower Operation In operation, a sh, such as broken olf drill pipe, tool joints, drill collars and thelike, in the well 'bore is brought into contact with the overshot fshingapparatus by lowering the overshot apparatus 1li-on -theusual shing string or Wash pipe (not shown) so that the mill guide 11 will direct the broken off fish into the apparatus 10 in the usual manner. As is clearly Shown in Fig, 3, the fish o1*l severed pipe 68 has a jagged top portion 69, and may consist of a portion of the `drill pipe usually of smaller diameter 70 connecting with the drill collars 71 of larger diameter. lIn such a situation, it would be diicult to predetermine the size of the overshot apparatus for Irecovery of the sh, and thus may necessitate more than one trip into the `Well bore Vto properly engage the lost fish. As shown in Fig. 3, the overshot apparatus 10 is lowered over the fish until the top 69 of vthe smaller sized pipe 70 engages with the mill Iteeth 28, thereby anchoring the sh 68 in the overshot10 whereby the main control s-pring 20 exerts a downward thrust on the control sleeves 12 and 13 to preclude any vertical movement of the sleeves 12 and 13 4during downward movement of the housing 5 and 7.

It will thus be seen that the outer housings 5 and 7 of the overshot apparatus 10 move downwardly over the fish 68 with the lugs 42 andl43 slidable in the opposed Y longitudinal slots 37 and 38 respectively. The downward movement of lthe outer housing members 5 and 7 relative to the control sleeves 12 :and 13 permits tapers 32a and 54eA `to -rnove away from their cooperating sets of slips 32v and 54frespectively so that the slips maybe placed in a non-engaging or released position. this position, the lugs 42 and 43 areA disposed adjacenty the lowerrnost port-ionof the Vslots 37 and .37S and inalignment with theA horizontal recesses 39 and 40. When it is desired to engage the overshot with theish, it is only necessary to move the outer housings 5 and 7upwa`rdly causing the tapers 32a and-54a Vto contact the Vsets of slips 32, and 54, respectively, thereby Vmovingthe slips inwardly into simultaneous engagement against the fish at two vertical points -of contact. The separate slip springs 34 and 50 permit independent operation of the sets of slips 32 and 54 vrespectively when engaging -the lost drill pipe or the like. The tension of the helical -slip springs 34 yand 50 will assist the tapered housing -portions in engagement of thepslips. j

VAs'n'oted in Fig. 3, it will be apparent thatthe upper set 'of slips '3.2, will contactl the pipe 70 of smaller size, while the llower slips may contact a toolk joint, pipe collar or the `like of larger diameter as illustrated at 71j, and in a lowermost position therefrom. In Figs. lV andllA the size of the slips 32l for engaging a smaller diameter pipe is less than the size of the slips 54 for engaging tool joints, drill collars and thelike, .usually of larger diameter. Although not limited thereto, the smaller slips are generally sized to engage pipe `approximately four and one-half.inches I. D., while the slips 5,4 are sized to engage drill collars of a diameter of approximatelyive and three-quarter inches I. D. It will thus be seen that the double'actin'g fishing tool may be utilized for making independentcontact with pipe at two different places and of variable sizes. However, it ymay also be used for contacting pipe ofthe same size at two places by merely substituting the smaller sized slips at the lower end of the mandrel for the slips 54. The slipV springs 34 and 50 provide forthe. independent action of the. separate sets of slips`3'2 and 54during -a setting of the overshot. The anchoring spaee .of the springs 34 and 5() and .the floating slip rings 35 and 51 permits for a longer travel j of the slips vduring a lowering of theV overshotover a iish to compensate for any .variance in distance between the separate bitof the spaced sets of 'slips 32 and 54. It has been found that in the 'double acting overshot, a worm tool joint may prevent proper engagement of the lower slips 54, however, the independent actionY of the separate sets of slips would set the upper slips 32, thereby providing a biting contact with the fish.

v In the event an engaged sh is stuck and cannot be removed, it maybe necessary totrelea'se the overshot, and the 'present invention contemplates afrelease of bothsets of slips 32 and 'from both points ofcontact simltaneously. The release f the :engaging "slips 'is' accompli'shed by again moving ythe.outer.housing v5 and. 7 downwardly and Vplacing the lgs 42 and 43 into alignment with the slots 39 and 4.0, which may be disposed therein by aturn in a right hand direction, thereby ho'ldingfthe control sleeve 12 in an upward position so that the slips 32 and 54 will be maintained in a released position from the sh 68. In thisr manner, the overshot apparatus 10 may be removed from the well bore so that other apparatus (not shown) may be utilized for releasing the stuck fish.

It will be apparent that it is not necessary that the anchoring point of the lost sh be made against the upper mill teeth 28, particularly if the upper end 69 of the fish is not long enough to be brought into contact therewith. In such a situation, the anchoring of the control sleeves 12 and 13 may be accomplished at a lower point on the fish, such as against the mill teeth 57. In Fig. 4 is shown the overshot apparatus engaged over a fish having a smaller pipe 70 but the anchoring is accomplished by engagement with the mill teeth 57 against the larger sized pipe 71. The operation of the overshot apparatus is exactly the same for an anchoring against the teeth 57 as against the mill 28. Once the fish 68 is anchored, either set of slips 32 and 54 may take hold to remove the fish from the well bore, assuming it is not stuck therein. However, if the iish 68 is stuck, the overshot 10 may be released through movement of thelugs 42 and 43 in the manner above referred to.

It will thus be seen that the present invention contemplates a double engaging, or double acting overshot which will independently engage the lost fish at two dilerent points of Contact, and for different sizes of connecting drill pipe. In many instances, the broken off sh and particularly the pipe above a tool joint may be slotted, or broken, and any engagement of a set of slips thereby would cause a cave-in, or mashing of the slotted pipe, so that an eicient engagement cannot be made. How. ever, once the lish is anchored by either set of mill teeth 28 or 57, if one set of slips could not make engagement for some reason, the other set of slips will engage at a dierent position for retrieving the fish 68 from the bore. A In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the overshot ap paratus for a single engagement of the sh at only one point of contact. The overshot apparatus shown in Fig. 5 comprises substantially the same structure, except that the sectional control sleeves 12 and 13 of the preferred embodiment have not been utilized, and in lieu thereof, a unitary releasing control Sleeve 80 is disposed with the connecting housing members 5 and 7. The overshot structure in Fig. 5 has several interchangeable parts with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, in that the lower housing 7 is the same as that utilized with the preferred embodiment, and connects with the upper head member 1 at the threads 4. However, the housing member 5 of the preferred embodiment has been omitted to provide for the direct assembly of the head 1 and the lower housing 7, and the unitary control sleeve 80 is utilized in lieu of the sectional control sleeves 12 and 13. It will be apparent that the cylindrical unit 80 is provided with a sleeve portion 81 of larger diameter disposed in the bowl member 7. The sleeve 81 is provided with an integral upstanding sleeve portion 82. The upstanding sleeve 82 is of lesser diameter than the Sleeve 81.

The main control spring 83 surrounds the control unit 80 and is anchored at its top against the lower face 84 of the upper head 1, and at the bottom on a circumferential flange, or shoulder 85 provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 81. The circular anti-friction bearing 86 rests on a shoulder 87 provided by the reduced portion between the sleeves 81 and S2 of the unit 80. A mill ring 88 is secured to the inner periphery of the sleeve 81 through set screws 89 in the usual manner. The mill ring 88 is provided with teeth 90, and the lower portion of the sleeve 81 has circumferential teeth 91 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

' Only one set of segmental slips 92 are carried by the sleeve 81 and retained thereon above a shouldered portion 93 by a suitablespring retaining ring 94; It will be apparent that the slips 92 are anchored in a different manner from that inthe preferred embodiment in that they do n`ot have a movable retainer ring such as rings 35 and 51 permitting extended longitudinal movement of the slips. In the single operation shown in the modification, the slips are only permitted Vertical movement between the bottom of the ange and the shoulder 93. The outer housing 7 is provided with an inwardly directed tapered portion 92a. Below the slips 92, the housing also includes the sealing ring 59, retaining ring 60 and guide member 9 and cam surface 11 as that of the preferred embodiment.

rl`he operation of the single engaging overshot is substantially the same as that of the double acting structure of the preferred embodiment in that the overshot is lowered over the sh (not shown in this ligure) until the upper jagged edge thereof engages the mill teeth 90. The mill teeth 91 will knock ohE any jagged edges of the upper portion of the fish as it passes thereby and also assists the anchoring operation of the mill teeth 90. The down-y ward thrust of the main spring 33 on the control sleeve 81 maintains it in a substantially rigid, stationary position relative to any fish that may be anchored against the mill teeth 9i?, thus permitting the overshot bowl 7 to move downwardly so that the tapers 92a will move away from the slips 92 and provide a disengaged, or released position relative to the fish. Movement of the bowl 7 relative to the sleeve 81 is provided by the diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, or slots 96 provided in the neck, or smaller sleeve portion S2. The grooves 96 communicate with opposed recesses 97 arranged substantially in the same manner as that of the preferred embodiment. The upper head 1 is provided with the diametrically opposed tianges, or lugs 16 which are adapted to engage in the slots 96. As the housing 7 moves downwardly the lugs 16 will be moved downwardly in the slots 96, permitting the taper 92a to move away from and release the slips 92. However, if it is desired to engage the slips with a fish (not shown), the outer bowl 7 is moved vertically upward thereby moving the lugs 16 upwardly with the taper 92a forcing the slips into engagement with a fish. After engagement with the slips 92, if it is found the iish is stuck, the slips are released by again moving the bowl 7 downwardly, simultaneously moving the lugs 16 downwardly into alignment with the horizontal recesses 97, after which upon a right hand movement of the overshot apparatus will position the lugs 16 in the recesses 97 and thereby hold the central unit 8) in an upward position so that the slips will be in a position of release and the overshot apparatus may be moved from the well bore for any further operation that is desired.

It will be apparent that an operator may use the single acting overshot apparatus as shown in Fig. 5 for one biting engagement at one place on a lost fish. However, if a situation is encountered where the broken olf pipe is of variable diameter and two places of engagement are desired, the overshot apparatus set forth in the preferred embodiment can easily be utilized by a simple alteration of the modified single acting unit of Fig. 5. When desired to alter the single unit of Fig. 5, the upper head 1 is unthreaded from the lower housing 7 permitting removal of the control unit comprising sleeves 81 and S2 and slips 92 therefrom. The sectional control sleeves 12 and 13 carrying the double slips 32 and 54, along with the double slip springs 34 and 543 and retaining rings 35 and 51, are substituted by insertion into the lower housing 7. The upper housing 5 is then engaged with the lower housing after which the head 1 is brought into assembled relation therewith. With this change, the double acting overshot apparatus is complete and ready for operation.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates an improved overshot shiug apparatus in that it may be set in two places for pipes or drill collars of different sizes at the same time with one action, and the'operating action may be from one V,of two points of anchoring the broken pipe in the.

o vershot to permit the functioning of..a single control sleevehaving a plurality of setsof slips disposed at spaced vertical Apoints inv the overshot, and which slipsare capable of independent engagement of the pipe at the variable points Vof contact, but release simultaneously therefrom.Y Furthermore, the invention contemplates the use of interchangeable y, parts between a double acting and single ,acting vovershot apparatus by substitution of the control sleevesand necessary adjunct parts thereto from a single operation to a double operation and vice versa, so that the operator is afforded a iishing tool with diversified advantages capable of accomplishing an ecient result in almost any type of iishing operation.

.Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that'any ^modication in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the in- Vention.

I clann: v

l. In an overshot apparatus for removing broken off pipe `and the like from oil well bores comprising a cylindrical housing adapted to be Vlowered over the pipe, a

control sleeve disposed in the housing, a plurality of sets of segmental slips carried bythe control sleeve at longitudinally spaced positions thereon, tapering means providedvon the housing adjacent each set of slips and cooperating therewith to effect a gripping engagement of the Slips with the pipe, cooperating flange and slot means provided on the housing and the control sleeve to permit longitudinal movement between the housing and the control sleeve, and main spring means for anchoring the control sleeve during longitudinal movement of the housing in one direction.

2. In a double acting overshot apparatus for Vremoving broken oli` pipe and the like from oil well bores comprising a cylindrical housin 7 adapted to be lowered over the pipe, a control sleeve disposed in the housing, a plurality of sets of segmental slips carried by the control sleeve at longitudinally spaced positions thereon, tapering means provided on the housing in proximity of each set of slips and cooperating-therewith to eect a gripping engagement of the slips with the pipe, and slip spring means carried by the control sleeve and cooperating with'each set of slips to provide independent operation of the slips relative to each other, and cooperating ange and slot means provided on the housing and the control sleeve to permit longitudinal movement between the housing and the control sleeve, and main spring means for anchoring the control sleeve during longitudinal movement of the housing in one direction. V

Y3. In a double acting overshot apparatus for removing broken ott pipe and the like from oil well bores com- Y prising a cylindrical housing adapted to be lowered over the'pipe, a control sleeve disposed in the housing, a plurality of sets of segmental slips carried by the control sleeve at longitudinally spaced positions thereon for engaging connecting pipe of two dir'erent sizes at two different points of contact, tapering means provided on the housing in proximity of each set of slips and cooperating therewith to effect a gripping engagement of the slips with the pipe, said housing adapted for longitudinal slidable movement relative to the Vcontrol sleeve to alternately move the tapering means toward and'away from each set of slips, main spring means for anchoring the control sleeve during sliding movement of the housing inrone direction providing a release of the slips, and slip spring means carried by the control sleeve and cooperating with each set of slips to provide independent voperation of the slips duringengagement with'the pipe.

rality of sets of .segmental slips carried by the control sleeve at longitudinally 'spaced positions thereon foi' en. Y

gag-ing connecting pipe of two dilerent `sizes at vtwo different Apoints of contact, tapering means provided on the housing in proximity of each set of slips and cooperating therewith toelec't a gripping ,engagement of the slips with `-the pipe, said housing adapted' for lon'- gitudinal slidable movement relative to the control sleeve to alternately move the tapering means toward and away from each set ofslips, main spring means for anchoring lthe control sleeve duringsliding movement of the housing in one direction to effect a simultaneous release of the slips, and slip spring means `carried by the control sleeve and. cooperating with eachA set ofslips to provide independent operation of the slips.during*movement of the housing in an opposite direction from the first mentioned direction to cause engagement with the pipe. Y

5. In a double acting overshot vapparatus for removing broken ofi kpipeV and thev like from oil well l'bores comprising a cylindrical housing adapted to be lowered over the pipe, a control sleeve disposedin the housing, aplu'- rality of sets ,of segmental slips carried iby the control sleeve at llongitudinally 'spaced positions thereon for engaging connecting Vpipe `of twol diierent sizes at vtwo different points of contact, tapering means provided `on the housing in Yproximity of each set of slips and cooperating therewith to effect a 'gripping engagement of the `slips with the pipe, saidhousing adapted 'for longitudinal slidable movement relative to the control sleeve to `alternately move the tapering means toward and away from each set of slips, main spring means for anchoring the control sleeve during ,sliding movement of the housing in one direction providing a simultaneous release of the slips,` slip spring means carried by the control sleeve for each set of slips, a oating retainer ring anchoring one end of each slip spring means, each slip and Ting means cooperating with-a respective set of slips to provide independent operation of the Aseparate sets of slips during contact of the jtapering means thereaganst to cause engagement with the pipe. 6. In a double acting overshot'apparatus for removing broken olvpipe and the like from oil well bores comprising 'a cylindrical housing adapted to be lowered over thepipe, a control sleeve disposed in the housing, a plurality of sets of segmentalslips carriedby lthe Acontrol sleeve at llongitudinally spaced-positions thereon for engaging connecting pipe of Ytwo different sizes at two different points of contact, tapering means provided on the housing in proximity of each set of slips and cooperatingptherelwith to effecta gripping engagement of the slips with jthe pipe, saidghousing adapted for-longitudinal slidableimovement relative `to the control sleeve toualternately move the tapering means towardand away from each set of slips,"main spring means for anchoring'the control sleeve during sliding movement of the housingV in one direction `providing a simultaneous'release ofthe slips, slip spring means carried by the contr-ol sleeve, a oating retainer ring anchoring one endof the slip spring means, said spring and ring means cooperating with eachvsetofnslips to provide independent operation of the separate sets of slips durig contact ofV the tapering means thereagainst to cause engagement with therpipc, and clutchmeans cooperating between the housing and the control sleeve to permit longitudinal movement there between, said clutchj means lhaving cooperating'slot and ang'e meanspermitting rotation of the housing relative tothe sleeve in one position ofslidable movement therebetween to maintain theslips in released position.

7. In a'double acting overshoot apparatus fortremoving broken off pipe and the like from'oil well'bores comprisingV a cylindricalhousing adapted to be Vlowered over` the pipe, a control4 sleeve` disposed 'in' the housing, slip means carried by the control'sleeve andengaging broken ol connectingfpipe 'of two vdifferent sizes inat means cooperating with the slip means to provide independent operation of the slip means at each point of contact, and releasing means cooperating with the slip means to provide for a simultaneous release at both points of contact in one action of the slip means.

8. In an overshoot apparatus for removing broken off pipe and the like from well bores comprising a cylindrical housing to be lowered over the pipe, a unitary control sleeve disposed in the housing, a plurality of segmental slips circumferentially disposed around the control sleeve, tapering means provided on the housing adjacent the slips for alternately eiecting engagement and disengagement of the slips with the pipe, a reducedl sleeve portion integral with the control sleeve, a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots provided in the reduced sleeve portion, a pair of diametrically opposed iianges carried by the housing and cooperating with the longitudinal slots to permit longitudinal movement between the housing and the sleeve during engagement and disengagement of the slips with the pipe, and horizontal slot means provided on the reduced sleeve and communicating with the longitudinal slots and adapted to receive the ilanges therein in one position of the housing through a right hand rotation thereof relative to the control sleeve to maintain the slips in a disengaged position with the pipe.

9. In a iishing tool apparatus for removing broken off pipe and the like from well bores having an outer cylindrical sectional housing comprising an upper head member, a lower bowl member and an intermediate bowl member interposed between the head and the lower bowl, a sectional control sleeve disposed in the housing, said control sleeve carrying a plurality of sets of slips disposed at longitudinally spaced positions on the control sleeve for engaging connecting pipe of two different sizes in at least two different points of Contact, tapering means provided on the housing for effecting alternate engagement and disengagement of the slips with the pipe, and spring and ring means cooperating with the slips to provide independent operation of each slip relative to each other, said apparatus :capable of a single engaging contact with the pipe by substitution of the sectional control sleeve and slips thereon for a unitary control sleeve having only one set of slips thereon, said interchange of control sleeves provided by elimination of the intermediate bowl for direct connection between the upper head and the lower bowl of the cylindrical housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,734 Barbour et al. Mar. 17, 1925 2,070,869 Sorensen Feb. 16, 1937 2,174,077 Bowen Sept. 26, 1939 2,190,442 Costello Feb. 13, 1940 

